MANAGEMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
None
The exam is a written one and it covers all course topics referring to course materials (see a following point).
There are two options to take the exam: i) taking two partial exams, respectively on course parts A and B at the end of each section in devoted dates that will be communicated when scheduled; ii) taking a "one shot" exam (summing up parts A and B) after the end of the course starting from June -July 2022. Whatever the option, the final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades of part A and part B, provided that each partial grade is equal or above 18/30.
i)
Part A exam includes three multiple choice questions, two open questions and an exercise aimed at testing comprehension of basic concepts and their application, both qualitative and quantitative, to all types of organizations. Part B exam includes three multiple choice questions and four open questions aimed at testing comprehension and application of basic strategic management models
The two partial exams will last 45' each.
ii)
The "one shot" exam (part A + part B) includes six multiple choice questions, six open questions and an exercise aimed at testing what mentioned above for partial exams. It will last 80’.
From a technical and logistic point of view, exams in both options will take place in University classrooms, either on paper or using students' laptops integrated by University PCs in IT labs. In any case, the structure ad duration of exams will remain unchanged. All necessary infos will be provided in due course via e-learning.
All Covid-19 protocols will be respected in any case, and should it be necessary to change the exam format communications will be given promptly via the e-learning space.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course’s goal is to make students understand the fundamentals of Business Administration, Management and Corporate Strategy, providing a comprehensive overview of structure, processes and strategic choices of firms and other organizations in a double-fold perspective (i.e. both descriptive and problem-solving). At the end of the course, therefore, students should have learned the basic concepts of business administration as well as managerial models and tools to describe structure and strategy for different economic organizations, with a specific focus on for-profit firms.
Specifically, the course is divided into two modules: A and B.
Module A provides an overview of the structure and functioning of firms and other economic organizations with a special focus on institutional goals; ownership and governance structures and processes; governance decisions and stakeholders/shareholders analysis; personnel; assets & liabilities; equity and going concern; economic and financial KPIs.
Module B is focused on Corporate Strategy including both internal and external/market analysis, strategic planning and execution as well as key strategic decisions such as vertical cost leadership, differentiation, segmentation, integration, outsourcing, diversification, internationalization, growth and downsizing.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, therefore, students will be able to:
- be familiar with business/management jargon (terms/vocabulary);
- understand models to assess corporate structure and strategy/structure;
- understand the basic concepts re: economic/financial analysis including main KPIs.
MODULE A (40 hours):
A) THE FUNDAMENTALS
• Course presentation. Management and Business Administration
• People and economic activity
• Firms, other organizations and economic specialization
B) THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF FIRMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: AN OVERVIEW AND SOME DEEPER INSIGHTS
• Structure and strategies
• Ownership and governance, including shareholder and stakeholders
• Governance structures and processes
• Economic and financial performance
• Asset/Liability analysis, including equity and debt
C) COMPANIES’ RESULTS, PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND THE BALANCE SHEET
• Company’s performance, going concern
• P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement
D) KEY DECISIONS
• Institutional approach
• Structure
• Inter-company networks and group structure
• Debt/Equity and Shareholders
MODULE B (40 hours):
A) MISSION, VISION, STRATEGY
• Directions
• Strategic process
B) EXTERNAL (COMPETITIVE) ANALYSIS
• Task environment analysis
• Industry, market, business analysis
C) MARKET AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS: POSITIONING AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
• Competitive positioning
• Market structure and competition
• Bargaining power: suppliers and customers
• Identifying the key differentiators
D) INTERNAL ANALYSIS: RESOURCES AND COMPETENCES
• The importance of the internal analysis
• Corporate resource analysis and resource-based view
• Resources vs competences
• The value chain
• Benchmarking
• Resources, competences and competitive advantage
E) BUSINESS STRATEGIES
• Cost leadership
• Differentiation
• Focus
• Going beyond basic strategies
F) CORPORATE STRATEGIES
• Market penetration
• Vertical Integration (upstream/backward)
• Diversification
• Internationalization
• Growth vs Downsizing
MODULE A:
G. Airoldi – G. Brunetti – V. Coda, Corso di Economia Aziendale, Il Mulino, 2020, Cap. 1, Cap. 2, Cap. 3 (da 3.1 a 3.6), Cap. 4 (da 4.1 a 4.4), Cap. 5 (da 5.1 a 5.5), Cap. 6 (da 6.1 a 6.6), Cap. 9 (da 9.1 a 9.2), Cap. 12 (12.1), Cap. 14, Cap. 15 (da 15.1 a 15.4), Cap. 16 (da 16.1 a 16.4) Cap. 17 (17.1).
The case-studies mentioned in the detailed schedule (that will be available to students at the beginning of the course) will be uploaded on the elearning course page, together with selected articles from the economic press.
MODULE B:
Cotta Ramusino E. – Onetti A. Strategia d’impresa, Il Sole 24 Ore Libri, Milano, 5a Edizione, 2021, Cap. 1, 3, 4 , 5, 6.
Front lectures, case discussions, seminars.
Only for Module A: practical exercises to understand and implement the basic principles of economic viability and the balance sheet (to be further developed in the course of “Accountancy”.
Office hours are indicated, and regularly updated, in professors’ homepages.
Module A:
francesco.sacco@uninsubria.it
Module B:
enrica.pavione@uninsubria.it